Suggest Treatment For Fluctuations In BP And Muscle Cramps

Posted on Mon, 12 Dec 2016

Question: I was admistered cipro for a jaw abcess in 2003, given levaquin and prednesone together in 2007 for pneumonia, and again in 2008 for pneumonia. I have damage to my thyroid, kidneys, and mitochondrial damage at the cellular level. It shows up as intense pain in the tendons(thumb, achilles, hips mostly), wide blood pressure swings, and in the form of cramping and severe muscle spasms when my limited tank of gas runs out. Is there anything I can do to repair the damage? Or to mitigate the pain?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Symptoms treatment.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.

I have read your question and understand your concerns.

Unfortunately there is not much to do to reverse damages caused by fluorquinolones toxicity.

Treatment mainly aims to improve symptoms, blood pressure if is high should be controlled with appropriate drugs (betablockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors etc.), muscles spasms should be treated with restriction of muscles overuse, good hydration, moderate exercises and stretching, vitamins and minerals supplements, muscles relaxers, pain could be controlled by the use of antineuralgic drugs such gabapentin, pregabalin, amytriptiline, etc.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (59 minutes later)

Unable to tolerate any of the BP medications because of either low HR. (Resting-39), or severe muscle spasms on the 3rd day. A vasodilator almost put me in the hospital. I've been forced to use medical marijuana, but unfortunately, I've just been diagnosed with 'cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome'. On the plus side, I'm as fit as possible. I was a runner for 40 years and I still try to play tennis once a week. I was a Us top 20 player in the XXXXXXX divisions before all this. I'm on an elliptical and doing weight every other day. I've come a long way in rehabbing myself. I must stop the marijuana, but the meds don't look wan alternative. Any other ideas?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Some remedies listed below.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

Drugs are an inevitable alternative to treat the pain when it becomes unbearable.

Some things to try to minimize the fluorquinolones toxicity effects include moderate exercises and efforts, (avoid excessive efforts), staying well hydrated, taking supplements of vitamin C, magnesium and vitamin B6, ( or multivitamins and minerals supplements ), avoid sugar, alcohol.

Avoid also the use of NSAID drugs.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (38 minutes later)

Thank you for your feedback. I'm currently doing all of those except for magnesium because of my low heart rate. I don't drink because it is a meniere's trigger, which I've been dealing with for the past 30 years, and I have had some success with acupuncture in the past. It hasn't been working for me lately. I also did full body acupuncture every other day for 3 months before we figured out I had been poisoned. My acupuncturist(Beijing trained) thought, as did I, that I had a neuromuscular disease. I was actually misdiagnosed at the Barrow Neurological Institute's Neuromuscular Research Center a number of years ago. A blood screen came back negative, and I had another consult with another neurologist, who agreed that wasn't what was going on. No one questioned that I was damaged, but didn't have a clue as to why. I also consulted a rheumotologist who suggested that I was damaged at the mitochondrial level, but didn't know why. I found out later what had happened to me, and I've been forced to chase solutions ever since, as the medical world and the pharma world hasn't been particularly helpful. My nephrologist doesn't want me taking pain killers or basically anything because of my kidney damage (stage 3). Would you happen to know of anywhere that is doing any successful stem cell work? I think my only systemic solution is in that direction.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Prolotherapy is an alternative.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

Stem cells therapy is a promising way of treatment about several conditions, but studies results are lacking about its use in treating fluorquinolones toxicity.

Prolotherapy instead is a possibility and there are similarities with stem cells therapy in principle, if bone marrow cells are used as treatment means.

Prolotherapy consists on injections of different solutions (dextrose, ozone, magnesium, zinc, bone marrow, plasma etc.) to the site of damaged tendons, ligaments, in order to promote growth of new cells.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. REMY KOSHY

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (11 hours later)

Thank you. I'm going to follow up on prolotherapy as there are a number of locations near me that use it. The Core Institute in XXXXXXX AZ is one. Any ideas for the skeletal muscle spasms that occur in the rib cage and back, when my fuel runs out? I am determined to get my physical life back, which is why I still work out regularly(every other day on the elliptical and weights). I cannot do two days in a row. The same is true with tennis(I'm still relatively OK early in the morning and I'm able to see what I'd look like if I hadn't been damaged). Not much loss in terms of aging. The losses are due to damage. Since I've been a ranked player since childhood and have never stopped playing, I am my own control in terms of a research model, and I have a good sense of aging vs damage. I'm a lot further along than I was 5 years ago, but I'm not satisfied.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

I admire your positive outlook and congratulate you for the attitude.

About muscles spasms, since damage at the mitochondrial level is suspected, mitochondria are responsible about providing energy to the cells, including muscles cells that are more prone to energy supply changes.

Physical activity and exercises should be moderate, tailored regarding to your condition, and precautions about prevention of muscles overuse and fatigue, are necessary.

Hope I helped you so far.

Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng